Press release

Mon, Mar 11th 2013 10:20 pm

Assemblyman
John Ceretto, R-C-I-Lewiston, helped pass the Assembly budget
resolution Monday, which increased state education aid to schools by
$834 million on a year-to-year basis, secured $120 million to better
treat the developmentally disabled, enhanced aid to community college
students and provided additional funding for local road and bridge
work. The budget resolution is a working document that will be vetted
over the next few weeks during negotiations to determine the final
state budget.

"Tonight's
budget resolution puts lawmakers in a strong position to pass a
fiscally responsible, on-time budget that increases important aid to
schools and the developmentally disabled, while still holding the
line on taxes and providing additional support to local governments,"
Ceretto said. "As lawmakers, we cannot turn our backs on the most
vulnerable members of our society and must provide the resources
these individuals need for treatment and support."

While
Ceretto voted for the resolution, he did criticize downstate
politicians for including taxpayer-funded tuition assistance for
illegal aliens in the Assembly Majority budget resolution. The
program, known as the Dream Act, would provide up to $25 million in
college assistance from the state's TAP program to illegal
immigrants.

"I
am disappointed that New York City politicians are attempting to push
through taxpayer-funded college assistance for illegal aliens in
their budget proposal," Ceretto said. "Rather than spend millions
of taxpayer dollars to send illegal aliens to college, I believe the
Legislature should be working to provide additional assistance in
this year's budget for the developmentally disabled and
middle-class college students. I will not vote for the Dream Act if
it comes to the floor as a standalone bill."

"I
will continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle
to ensure that the finalized state budget places Western New York on
stronger economic footing, while affording us the ability to fund
education and other worthy programs at responsible levels," Ceretto
added.